New SAT Writing and Language : New SAT
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Example Questions
Example Question #547 : Sat Writing
The Moluccas is a chain, or archetype, of islands belonging to Indonesia. Historically, these islands were known as the Spice Islands for their abundance of nutmeg, cloves, mace, and pepper, this profundity of spices eventually drew colonial attention. Spices such as cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, anise, and pepper were particularly popular during the medieval times. In the 1600s, the Spice Wars arose as a result of competing Portuguese and Dutch interest’s in the Spice Islands. The bloody conflict ended in the deaths of many native Moluccans as well as European traders, wherefore both Portugal and the Netherlands gained and lost territories ranging from Africa and South America. For this day, strife occasionally breaks out on the islands although it is now motivated by religious and not colonial disagreements. It is located just west of New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean, and its more than 1,000 islands are home to more than 2 million people today.
Which of the following pieces of information would be most relevant to add to the passage?
The taxonomy of popular Moluccan spices such as pepper and cloves
The origin of the name of the Moluccas
The ship’s log from the first recorded European sightings of the Moluccas
The names of the builders of the Dutch and Portuguese warships
A list of the territorial gains made by the Dutch in the Spice Wars
The origin of the name of the Moluccas
Since the passage is mainly devoted to describing the Moluccas’ historical background and geographical location, all of the choices except “the origin of the name of the Moluccas” are too specific and would represent digressions from the main topic.
Example Question #131 : New Sat
The Moluccas is a chain, or archetype, of islands belonging to Indonesia. Historically, these islands were known as the Spice Islands for their abundance of nutmeg, cloves, mace, and pepper, this profundity of spices eventually drew colonial attention. Spices such as cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, anise, and pepper were particularly popular during the medieval times. In the 1600s, the Spice Wars arose as a result of competing Portuguese and Dutch interest’s in the Spice Islands. The bloody conflict ended in the deaths of many native Moluccans as well as European traders, wherefore both Portugal and the Netherlands gained and lost territories ranging from Africa and South America. For this day, strife occasionally breaks out on the islands although it is now motivated by religious and not colonial disagreements. It is located just west of New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean, and its more than 1,000 islands are home to more than 2 million people today.
Which of the following sentences needs an apostrophe added to or deleted from it?
The Moluccas is a chain, or archetype, of islands belonging to Indonesia.
Spices such as cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, anise, and pepper were particularly popular during the medieval times.
The bloody conflict ended in the deaths of many native Moluccans as well as European traders, wherefore both Portugal and the Netherlands gained and lost territories ranging from Africa and South America.
Historically, these islands were known as the Spice Islands for their abundance of nutmeg, cloves, mace, and pepper, this profundity of spices eventually drew colonial attention.
In the 1600s, the Spice Wars arose as a result of competing Portuguese and Dutch interest’s in the Spice Islands.
In the 1600s, the Spice Wars arose as a result of competing Portuguese and Dutch interest’s in the Spice Islands.
In the fourth sentence, "In the 1600s, the Spice Wars arose as a result of competing Portuguese and Dutch interest’s in the Spice Islands," the “interests” aren’t possessing anything, so there is no need for an apostrophe. Plurals never require an apostrophe, any noun that is said to possess something else will require an apostrophe.
None of the other sentences need possession to be denoted, and thus cannot take the addition of an apostrophe.
Example Question #132 : New Sat
The Moluccas is a chain, or archetype, of islands belonging to Indonesia. Historically, these islands were known as the Spice Islands for their abundance of nutmeg, cloves, mace, and pepper, this profundity of spices eventually drew colonial attention. Spices such as cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, anise, and pepper were particularly popular during the medieval times. In the 1600s, the Spice Wars arose as a result of competing Portuguese and Dutch interest’s in the Spice Islands. The bloody conflict ended in the deaths of many native Moluccans as well as European traders, wherefore both Portugal and the Netherlands gained and lost territories ranging from Africa and South America. For this day, strife occasionally breaks out on the islands although it is now motivated by religious and not colonial disagreements. It is located just west of New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean, and its more than 1,000 islands are home to more than 2 million people today.
Where should the underlined sentence be moved in the passage?
After the third sentence
After the first sentence
After the second sentence
The sentence in question cannot be moved while maintaining the logical and grammatical flow of the passage
To the opening of the passage, becoming the very first sentence
After the first sentence
The final sentence, "It is located just west of New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean, and its more than 1,000 islands are home to more than 2 million people today," presents basic introductory information, so it belongs closer to the beginning of the passage; however, since it begins with a pronoun (“It”) lacking a referent, it would make more sense to place the sentence immediately after a sentence in which the pronoun’s referent is introduced. This would mean that the final sentence should be moved to become the second sentence of the paragraph, in order to make logical and grammatical sense.
Example Question #133 : New Sat
The Moluccas is a chain, or archetype, of islands belonging to Indonesia. Historically, these islands were known as the Spice Islands for their abundance of nutmeg, cloves, mace, and pepper, this profundity of spices eventually drew colonial attention. Spices such as cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, anise, and pepper were particularly popular during the medieval times. In the 1600s, the Spice Wars arose as a result of competing Portuguese and Dutch interest’s in the Spice Islands. The bloody conflict ended in the deaths of many native Moluccans as well as European traders, wherefore both Portugal and the Netherlands gained and lost territories ranging from Africa and South America. For this day, strife occasionally breaks out on the islands although it is now motivated by religious and not colonial disagreements. It is located just west of New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean, and its more than 1,000 islands are home to more than 2 million people today.
What should replace the underlined word “wherefore”?
and
because
NO CHANGE
or
nor
and
“Wherefore” is an antiquated word that means why, so it doesn’t make sense as a conjunction here. “Because,” “or,” and “nor” also don’t fit the context of the sentence. A simple “and” is sufficient to link these two independent clauses, since the second clause is just adding additional information to the first clause.
Example Question #111 : Analyzing, Combining, And Moving Content
The Moluccas is a chain, or archetype, of islands belonging to Indonesia. Historically, these islands were known as the Spice Islands for their abundance of nutmeg, cloves, mace, and pepper, this profundity of spices eventually drew colonial attention. Spices such as cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, anise, and pepper were particularly popular during the medieval times. In the 1600s, the Spice Wars arose as a result of competing Portuguese and Dutch interest’s in the Spice Islands. The bloody conflict ended in the deaths of many native Moluccans as well as European traders, wherefore both Portugal and the Netherlands gained and lost territories ranging from Africa and South America. For this day, strife occasionally breaks out on the islands although it is now motivated by religious and not colonial disagreements. It is located just west of New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean, and its more than 1,000 islands are home to more than 2 million people today.
What is the relationship between the two underlined sentences?
The first sentence provides historical context about conflict in the islands, the second transitions into a discussion of modern conflict on the islands, and the way in which the motivations for such conflict differ
The first sentence introduces the idea of conflict, and what might motivate it, and the second elaborates on the actual conflicts that have, in fact, occurred
Both sentences discuss historical conflicts in the island related to colonialism
The first sentence outlines the reason for modern conflicts in the islands, the second transitions into a discussion of historical, colonial conflicts fought in the same area
The two sentences are not related, the second sentence should be moved
The first sentence provides historical context about conflict in the islands, the second transitions into a discussion of modern conflict on the islands, and the way in which the motivations for such conflict differ
These two sentences are, obviously, grammatically independent from one another, but in terms of the context and logical flow of the paragraph, the first outlines historical conflicts, and then discusses modern conflicts. The two sentences thus, taken in concert, outline the history of conflict (and the motivations thereof) in the islands. This question required an accurate reading of both sentences, and an understanding of their overall role in the paragraph. The key thing to note is that the historical context is established prior to a discussion of the modern motivations for conflict in the area.
Example Question #134 : New Sat
The Moluccas is a chain, or archetype, of islands belonging to Indonesia. Historically, these islands were known as the Spice Islands for their abundance of nutmeg, cloves, mace, and pepper, this profundity of spices eventually drew colonial attention. Spices such as cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, anise, and pepper were particularly popular during the medieval times. In the 1600s, the Spice Wars arose as a result of competing Portuguese and Dutch interest’s in the Spice Islands. The bloody conflict ended in the deaths of many native Moluccans as well as European traders, wherefore both Portugal and the Netherlands gained and lost territories ranging from Africa and South America. For this day, strife occasionally breaks out on the islands although it is now motivated by religious and not colonial disagreements. It is located just west of New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean, and its more than 1,000 islands are home to more than 2 million people today.
Which of the following provides the most relevant detail to the underlined section?
during medieval times, which are defined by historians as running from approximately the 5th to the 15th centuries CE.
during medieval times, which were generally very physically uncomfortable, and therefore needed to be "spiced up."
during medieval times, when horses were most people's primary form of transportation
NO CHANGE
during medieval times, during which time scientific developments were extremely limited
during medieval times, which are defined by historians as running from approximately the 5th to the 15th centuries CE.
In order to answer this question, the first step is to identify the purpose of the sentence, which in this case is to provide the contextually relevant details of trade in the islands during a specific time period. The best answer, thus provides specific, accurate details about the dates of the time period in question. The sentence was not concerned with neither (highly unspecific) "scientific developments" nor "modes of transportation" so these answers can be immediately eliminated. One might be temped by the answer that mentions "spice" but note that this sentence does not actually provide relevant content, and by using a colloquial phrase ("spiced up") to make a lame pun, really does not match the matter-of-fact tone of the sentence preceding it.
Example Question #135 : New Sat
Adapted from Hard Times by Charles Dickens (1854)
A candle faintly burned in the window, to which the black ladder had often been raised for the sliding away of all that was most precious in this world to a striving wife and a brood of hungry babies. Stephen added to his other thoughts the stern reflection, that of all the casualties of this existence upon earth, not one was dealt out with so unequal a hand as death. The inequality of birth was nothing to it. For example, the child of a king and the child of a weaver were born tonight in the same moment. What would be the disparity between the death of any human creature who was serviceable to, or beloved by, another, while this abandoned woman lived on!
From the outside of his home he gloomily passed to the inside with suspended breath and with a slow footstep. He went up to his door opened it and so into the room.
Quiet and peace was there. Rachael was there, sitting by the bed.
She turned her head, and the light of her face shone in upon the midnight of his mind. She sat by the bed watching and tending his wife. That is to say, he saw that someone lay there and knew too good that it must be she. However, Rachael’s hands had put a curtain up, so that she was screened from his eyes. Her disgraceful garments were removed, and some of Rachael’s were in the room. Everything was in it’s place and order as he had always kept it. The little fire was newly trimmed, and the hearth was freshly swept. It appeared to him that he saw all this in Rachael’s face. While looking at it, it was shut out from his view by the softened tears that filled his eyes; however, this was not before he had seen how earnestly she looked at him, and how her own eyes were filled too.
Which of the following is an adequate replacement for the underlined "to"?
against
in comparison to
toward
NO CHANGE
in comparison to
As written, the word "to" is used in the sentence to express the contrast between the inequality of death and birth. In comparison to the inequality of death, the inequality of life seemed like nothing. Hence, the best answer is "in comparison to."
Example Question #134 : New Sat
Josh suffered from a fear of dogs since he is a little boy. He would shiver in his boots thinking of a dog barking at him, biting him, or that could chase him. He had never met a single dog he liked. The scarier dog he had ever seen was Mr. Green’s dog, whom he had to pass every day. On his way to school. This dog barked so loudly it made Josh’s hairs stand on end.
She said that there was no need to be afraid. Josh’s mom told him that dogs only barked because they were excited to see him. She told him that he just needed to be confident and not act afraid of this dogs’ barking, and speak in a reassuring tone. Then the dog would quiet down and act more friendly.
Josh felt that neither confidence or a reassuring tone would make any difference. He didn’t think he would ever get over his fear. However, one day he had enough. Barking for hours, he realized the dog was bored and just needed a friend. He wasn’t sure if his mother’s advice would prove true? Hiding his fear, he approached the dog and spoke to it in a reassuring tone. To his surprise, the dog wagged it’s tail and quieted down right away.
How should the underlined section be corrected?
he had been a little boy
he was a little boy
NO CHANGE
he, being a little boy
he was a little boy
This question asks you to correct a verb tense error. To find the correct answer, we can look at the context of the rest of the sentence. Since the sentence includes the past tense verb, "suffered," it is correct to use the past tense form, "he was a little boy."
Example Question #136 : New Sat
Adapted from Hard Times by Charles Dickens (1854)
A candle faintly burned in the window, to which the black ladder had often been raised for the sliding away of all that was most precious in this world to a striving wife and a brood of hungry babies. Stephen added to his other thoughts the stern reflection, that of all the casualties of this existence upon earth, not one was dealt out with so unequal a hand as death. The inequality of birth was nothing to it. For example, the child of a king and the child of a weaver were born tonight in the same moment. What would be the disparity between the death of any human creature who was serviceable to, or beloved by, another, while this abandoned woman lived on!
From the outside of his home he gloomily passed to the inside with suspended breath and with a slow footstep. He went up to his door opened it and so into the room.
Quiet and peace was there. Rachael was there, sitting by the bed.
She turned her head, and the light of her face shone in upon the midnight of his mind. She sat by the bed watching and tending his wife. That is to say, he saw that someone lay there and knew too good that it must be she. However, Rachael’s hands had put a curtain up, so that she was screened from his eyes. Her disgraceful garments were removed, and some of Rachael’s were in the room. Everything was in it’s place and order as he had always kept it. The little fire was newly trimmed, and the hearth was freshly swept. It appeared to him that he saw all this in Rachael’s face. While looking at it, it was shut out from his view by the softened tears that filled his eyes; however, this was not before he had seen how earnestly she looked at him, and how her own eyes were filled too.
What is the best form of the underlined verb "were born"?
might be born
were birthed
NO CHANGE
are born
might be born
The expression "were born" is too matter of fact for the sentence. It is a pure indicative. However, the author is given an example. This implies a degree of "possibility" or "potentiality." It might be the case that such a thing would happen—it is merely a supposed example. This is also hinted at by the verb in the next sentence: "would be." Thus, the best option is the verb form that uses the modal "might."
Example Question #137 : New Sat
Adapted from Hard Times by Charles Dickens (1854)
A candle faintly burned in the window, to which the black ladder had often been raised for the sliding away of all that was most precious in this world to a striving wife and a brood of hungry babies. Stephen added to his other thoughts the stern reflection, that of all the casualties of this existence upon earth, not one was dealt out with so unequal a hand as death. The inequality of birth was nothing to it. For example, the child of a king and the child of a weaver were born tonight in the same moment. What would be the disparity between the death of any human creature who was serviceable to, or beloved by, another, while this abandoned woman lived on!
From the outside of his home he gloomily passed to the inside with suspended breath and with a slow footstep. He went up to his door opened it and so into the room.
Quiet and peace was there. Rachael was there, sitting by the bed.
She turned her head, and the light of her face shone in upon the midnight of his mind. She sat by the bed watching and tending his wife. That is to say, he saw that someone lay there and knew too good that it must be she. However, Rachael’s hands had put a curtain up, so that she was screened from his eyes. Her disgraceful garments were removed, and some of Rachael’s were in the room. Everything was in it’s place and order as he had always kept it. The little fire was newly trimmed, and the hearth was freshly swept. It appeared to him that he saw all this in Rachael’s face. While looking at it, it was shut out from his view by the softened tears that filled his eyes; however, this was not before he had seen how earnestly she looked at him, and how her own eyes were filled too.
Which of the following is the best form of the underlined selection "from the outside of his home he gloomily passed"?
From the outside of his home, he gloomily
Gloomily, he passed from the outside of his home
From the outside of his home he gloomy
NO CHANGE
Gloomily, he passed from the outside of his home
Although you do not necessarily need to change the selection, the introductory prepositional phrase is clearer if it is placed directly before the other prepositional phrase "to the inside . . ." Stephen is passing from one place to another. This is clearer if "from" is placed in close conjunction with "to."
All New SAT Writing and Language Resources
